“Maximum care” is the watchword when it comes to handling fragile or deformable food products.
To prevent fragile or lightweight products from breaking, Vuototecnica has BEC suction cups for non-contact handling. The cups are based on the Bernoulli theorem, and allow products to be lifted without the need for contact like the puff pastry, a food that is quite delicate and easily deformed when handled.
The BEC also have spacers made of silicone and antistatic rubber for foods that keep the gripped object from moving side to side.
Supersonic speeds with single-stage vacuum generators 15 02 10
These single-stage Venturi ejectors have the special characteristic of being equipped with a compressed air storage chamber which is loaded during the ejector supply phase, to then be automatically discharged inside the sucker cup to generate a counter blow to facilitate the release of the object picked up.
In the video, you can have a look at one of the many uses of the vacuum generator 15 02 10 and see the fast operating speeds permitted by this instrument for extreme cycles, like with the rate of 23,000 cycles/h shown in the footage.
A breath of fresh air for the graphic industry
Quality solutions specifically designed for the graphic and printing industry: we are talking about the Graphic Division of Vuototecnica . A division focused on the study and design of innovative technological solutions for printers, binders, and graphics and paper & cardboard companies.
Feeders, sheet stoppers, folders, binders and gluers: there are many machines that can benefit from the use of vacuum and blower or suction pumps.
The suction and blower pneumatic pumps (SP/BP) are part of the flagship products of the Graphic Division and represent the new generation of multiple ejector pneumatic pumps (multi-stage). Nothing to do with the outdated electric and rotary vane pumps, both in terms of performance and from the point of view of the reliability and the cost of the product.
The Vuototecnica modular system saves up to 40% of compressed air, ensuring 80% less noise, and the total absence of heat, for a healthier and more liveable operating environment (60-65dB). In addition, the pumps work in complete autonomy and require almost no maintenance, just periodic cleaning of the filters.
Thanks to the new ejectors, the SP/BP pumps allow an advantageous relationship between the amount of air consumed and that suctioned (or blown), for substantially reduced operating consumption.
It is, in fact, possible to adjust the degree of vacuum (or pressure) and the flow rate, simply according to the air pressure, and to manage the pumps with proportional valves for compressed air, limiting consumption to a minimum, depending on the weight and the porosity of paper and cardboard in the printing machine.
And the benefits don’t end here: pumps are available in several sizes, and, given their very low weight, can be installed directly on the machine.
They only blow fresh air free of impurities, condensate or oil vapours between the sheets to be separated and allow a reduction of the electrostatic charges generated by the blown hot air of the traditional electric pumps.
A well-known Italian manufacturer, a market leader in milk products sector in Italy, recently installed on its robotic palletizers, Octopus vacuum gripping system with two suction plates to stack and organize products and packs on pallets.
During the packaging a big company needs performing and safe tools, which can sustain continuous cycles of work and avoid waste of time and money.
The Octopus system is very efficient and allows very long work phases. With Octopus you can manipulate objects of any shape and size, without having to replace suction cups and even when their surface occupies only 5% of the suction plate.
Vuototecnica acts as a partner for the resolution of any problem in industry handling through vacuum.
Cleanliness and efficiency in the rice sector
In September, the rice is collected. ThroughoutItaly, operators of the sector are engaged in activities of selection and packaging of this food that will then be the king of winter tables. Once packaged, however, it must be distributed, necessitating palletising robots able to manipulate very heavy sacks and to insert them without damaging into boxes intended for end distributors.
Vuototecnica proposes an innovative Octopus vacuum gripper system with suction plates specially created for the gripping of paper or plastic sacks containing cereals, powders, loose products or liquids.
The suction plates have a spongy seal which limits deformations of the sack while gripping and guarantees uniform contact with the entire surface thus avoiding tearing of the package and problematic vacuum leaks.
The spongy rubber maintains its elasticity even after many work cycles, is self-adhesive, easily replaceable and is made of a special compound that also allows gripping on very irregular surfaces. When working in dusty environments such as in the case of agricultural and food companies, it is important to prevent the problematic stoppage of gripping systems. Vuototecnica has also thought of this and Octopus provides self-cleaning micro-holes on the suction plates. The dust that is inevitably suctioned through the micro-holes is instead trapped by a filter disc made of stainless steel mesh, located inside the bar base box which in any case permits easy inspection for cleaning.
The very fine dust, impossible for the filter disc to trap, is ultimately suctioned and expelled by the vacuum generator.
Vuototecnica succeeds where others fail
Among the many successes achieved by Vuototecnica, we shall highlight one that is particularly outstanding. With the English branch, Vuototecnica UK, was recently designed for a known producer of bricks and paving, a system for handling different types of bricks with a single Octopus gripping head.
Octopus has permitted the depalletiser robot to work continuously, even in a highly dusty environment, such as that of production. The savings and end productivity have been greatly increased, without the need for costly downtime to adapt the suction plate to the different brick formats.
The Octopus depression gripping systems are the most flexible response for the palletising robot and depression gripping systems in general and in fact enable the gripping of objects of any shape and size. The greatest advantage is that there is no need to change or reposition the suction cups during the working phases.
Magnetic silicone compound suctions cups, to avoid unpleasant surprises
The use of suction cups in the food industry is becoming increasingly more common but the handling of products requires strict regulations and high quality standards. Caution must be used when picking up food products to prevent contaminating the products and to ensure maximum cleanliness.
For this reason, Vuototecnica offers magnetic silicone compound suction cups created especially for the food industry. The compound of suction cups can be easily detected in case of breakage or accidental detachment thanks to the metal detectors used to protect food products, which detect the ferrite powder contained in them.
In addition, the material has a high resistance to solvents, UV rays, oxygen, ozone and to chlorates, withstanding any type of production environment. The suction cups can be used at temperatures ranging from -50° to 275° C and for all types of food products.
Vuototecnica Maxigrip Cups: red carpet stability and resistance
A convertible car driving along a deserted road at sunset, the sea alongside and accompanied by dreamlike music. We are in a film and the landscape slides past the window. What we see on the screen was specially prepared for us by a team of technical image experts.
The cameras for shooting of the car in motion require appropriate media to allow for a smoother shot without jerky movements and, above all, ensuring stability, given the high costs of the cameras.
A German company has recently installed Vuototecnica Maxigrip Cups on the cars for perfect shooting of the cinematic scenes, a guarantee of perfect anchoring and stability. With a very high friction coefficient, available in all shapes and sizes, the Maxigrip cups offer extreme flexibility of the grip lip, which allows them to adapt to flat, concave and convex surfaces, also on greasy or wet sheeting. As such, perfect to apply to the bodywork of a car.
They are available in all compounds and are stain- resistant and thus will not ruin the surface of the filming car. Finally the range of accessories (reductions, grafts, adapters and positionable knuckle joints) allow even greater stability in attachment of the film camera. Thus also the movement and speed of the car are not problematic.
The Vuototecnica siphon filter system with automatic by-pass
Situations involving the suctioning of fluids containing large amounts of condensates and liquids can be complicated by the need for regular discharge operations.
For this reason, Vuototecnica has come up with an intelligent solution for the filtration of these types of liquids: the siphon filter system with automatic by-pass. Thanks to its two containers connected by an automatic by-pass and its three-way vacuum interception solenoid valve, this system wastes neither time nor money by emptying the accumulated liquid into the first container while continuing to filter through the second, with no interruptions and without altering the vacuum levels.
This tool can be further adapted to meet the user’s specific needs by regulating the discharge of the suctioned liquid itself. In addition to the two plexiglass siphon filters and solenoid valves, the unit also comes equipped with an electric control unit, which is contained within in a watertight metal box, as well as a painted steel frame, upon which all of the components are mounted.
Packaging and handling of crumbly baked goods
Crackers are light and flaky baked goods. The fact is, however, that they are so thin and fragile that one must be extremely careful in order to avoid breaking them. In order to prevent such inconveniences with crackers and other light and flaky food products, their producers rely upon special handling techniques.
Vuototecnica offers BEC vacuum cups for non-contact gripping. Though designed for semiconductor plates, silicon disks, solar cells and foils and films made from precious metals, these units also have a wide range of potential applications in the food industry.
The vacuum cups are based on Bernoulli’s principle, the same theory that explains how an airplane’s wing produces lift. In fact, the “lift” effect that they generate even allows for light products to be lifted, with no need for contact to be made, and is used for a wide range of lifting and separating applications: including sheets of paper, cardboard and stacked laminations.
The BEC are equipped with anti-static food-grade silicone rubber spacers in order prevent any lateral movements of the gripped object.
These special vacuum cups can also used for handling crumbly baked goods that produce light powders, such as crackers, thus preventing machine clogging and consequent production downtime.
Flawless handling, with no contact!
Vacuum generation at the speed of Flexible Picker Robots
Automation through robots ensures the flexibility, productivity and and reliability necessary to the use in order to respond proactively to shorter life-cycles, new packaging designs and new product variations.
The three-gripper robots, real technological spiders, require gripping and vacuum generation technologies that can keep up to pace with the times.
Very small size, significantly reduced weight: these are the features which make the new Vuototecnica vacuum generator FVG (Fast Vacuum generator) with ejector, the preferred product for installation on flexible pickers.
Specifically designed for very high frequency picking and placement, it is made completely of anodized aluminium. It is equipped with a system, which can be disabled by the customer, for generating a counter blow inside the suction cup at the moment the component to be handled is released. Maximum output even at low supply pressure together with the ease of installation and its small size, make this generator an essential ally in robotised pick up and placement.
Palletising, packaging, pick&place, shaping,thermoforming, and sealing machines. The Packaging sector uses different machine to deliver the perfect, packaged products we use daily to our homes. Many of the machines use vacuum suction cups for pick-up and handling.
For nearly forty years Vuototecnica has manufactured products targeted at the packaging sector, offering updated and efficient solutions for all machines and all technical requirements. The new PVR 1-4 cartridge vacuum generators can be directly integrated on the suction pick-up parts of packaging machines.
In addition they allow for the suctioning of dust and small processing residues that may result from the handling of bulk products. Without causing clogging.
Therefore they are ideal for machines including: cartoning, wrapping, and blistering machines and all machines which require high operation frequency without the burden of stopping the machine to clean suction filters.
The PVR 1-4 cartridge vacuum generators have a maximum output even at low working pressures (2-3 bar) with a maximum vacuum level of -70 KPa.
Save time and energy with Vuototecnica’s new servo operated solenoid valves!
Power supply units, suction palletisers for production and logistics; vacuum thermoformers and vacuum packaging machines in the packaging industry; robots of all sorts, sheet feeders or bag openers. Vacuum technology can be applied to many fields in the industrial sector.
In all situations in which we use vacuum technology, the switch is of fundamental importance. Whether suction cups are used or not, to facilitate an easy exchange between the vacuum pump suction and the air intake into the circuit, solenoid valves which create vacuum and restore the atmospheric pressure to the desired level, according to applicative requirements are necessary. Ensuring quick and correct vacuum is not a simple task because response times are not always those we desire.
Today it is possible to optimise intervention times thanks to the new 3-way servo operated solenoid valves 2” and 3” GAS by Vuototecnica, to increase suction up to 600 cum/h.
No one like those working in the chamber vacuum packaging sector understands the importance of the concept of suction flow, which can only be ensured by real opening diameter of the vacuum solenoid valves.
Vuototecnica‘s 07 08 13 and 07 09 13 solenoid valves ensure real suction flow diameters of 50 and 80mm.
In addition to being extremely quick and efficient, they operate with a low consumption electric coil which allows for a significant savings in energy and simple PLC management.
Vertical glass sheets: gripping, separation, and lifting in total safety
The glass industry encompasses a variety of processes and designs. The fragility of products and the necessary perfection of each piece often make handling difficult.
Vuototecnica offers various solutions in this field, even for special manipulation requirements such as gripping glass sheets stored vertically.
Bellow suction cups for glass, are ideal for this application since once the suction cup is placed on the surface and vacuum is attained, they have the ability to quickly retract, thereby facilitating the separation of superimposed glass plates.
The sheet is gripped and separated from any adjacent to it, without the risk of breaking or falling it. It is first positioned perpendicular to the floor and after this phase it can be moved in all directions without any adhesion problems and in total safety.
The bellow suction cups for glass are available in different compounds depending on the requirements: they don't leave halos or marks on the glass, they increase adherence in case of uneven or wet surfaces and they work in contact with atmospheric agents, in addition to having many other qualities.
Find the solution to your problem. Challenge us!
Oils, grease and fuels: problem solved with Vuototecnica BENZ compound suction cups!
In the automotive industry there is often the need to manipulate stamped or deep drawn metal sheets which then go on to make up the bodywork or other car components.
Today's automatic industry allows performing all phases of car production with robots, but these don't always represent the most ideal solutions for the gripping metal plates and glass that are in contact with oils, grease and fuels. The result is imprecision in work and poor safety in the workplace.
Vuototecnica solves these problems by manufacturing different types of suction cups for the automotive sector: flat, bellows, elliptical and maxigrip of different shapes and sizes.
The suction cups are made of BENZ compound, resistant to chlorine which is usually present in the oils for stamping and deep drawing sheet metal, and they carry out their work flawlessly, regardless of the weight and cleanliness of the load. The maxigrip suction cups provide an unparalleled grip, even on very oily and wet surfaces; as a matter of fact, the liquids are easily drained, without any worries. The grip lip is extremely sensitive and this makes manipulation easy, whatever the shape of the object to be gripped, whether it be concave, flat or convex.
If you are thinking that a strong grip may be broken, warped or leave unwanted marks on the surfaces, think again, because despite the high friction coefficient, Vuototecnica suction cups are designed with extreme attention to materials and the application processes.
In addition, a wide range of supports and accessories are available which can be installed on any type of robot.
Discover our solutions for the automotive sector.
Foam rubber suction cups: irregular surfaces are no longer a problem
Rough, uneven and sometimes even grooved surfaces can be extremely difficult to handle and manipulate. There is a constant risk of accidental damage to the materials themselves due to suction cups failing to properly adhere to the surface, thus resulting in wasted time and money.
Vuototecnica has permanently eliminated this risk thanks to its innovative foam rubber suction cups, which are available in flat round or flat rectangular versions.
They are particularly suitable for use on rough surfaces, like sawn marble, textured sheet metal, corrugated or anti-slip materials, striped acrylic, raw concrete, textured patio and garden tiles and, more generally, in all cases where a tight grip on a rough surface is required. In fact, the foam’s softness allows it to adapt to all the grooves and to perfectly adhere to the material.
Our foam rubber suction cups are made using a special high density blend of material, with an optimal elastic yield. They have a self-adhesive side for quick and easy fastening and offer guaranteed functionality at temperatures ranging from -40°C to +80°C. In the case of oil-coated grip surfaces and outdoor equipment, it is possible to make use of neoprene foam (NF) rubber, which has an operating temperature range of -20°C to +80°C and is capable of withstanding the wear and tear of the atmospheric agents. The durability of these suction cups is guaranteed over time, even after many operating cycles.
Concave suction cups for glass bottles: an intelligent solution
Glass is a material that’s made up of raw materials that are readily available upon the earth. What’s more, it can be continuously recycled and therefore has an extremely low environmental impact. In the production of glass bottles or cylindrical glass objects, the raw materials are melted in furnaces and cut by shearing machines before being moulded into their classic cylindrical shapes. After being annealed in the furnaces and inspected, the bottles must be handled for packaging. It is precisely at this stage that the need arises for suction cups capable of adapting to the cylindrical shapes and smooth surfaces of the bottles themselves.
Vuototecnica, a leader in vacuum technology, has developed concave suction cups with vulcanized supports for gripping and handling cylindrical objects like bottles.
Based on the types of objects to be handled, the suction cups can be manufactured in nitrile or oil-resistant rubber A, which are suitable for gripping glass materials and loads with smooth surfaces and are highly resistant to oil, heat and aging; in natural rubber N, for irregular or rough surfaces (wood, cardboard, marble, brick, glass or plastic); in silicone S, even produced according to the most well-known food-grade manufacturing standards. In addition to bottles, these suction cups can even be used in conjunction with a wide range of other cylindrical objects, including pipes and round profiles.
The support is made of aluminium and has a threaded central hole to facilitate machine mounting, as well as a lateral hole to facilitate the insertion of an anti-rotation guide pin.
Vuototecnica provides custom solutions to meet the needs of every industrial sector.
Suction cups for CDs and perforated objects
Compact discs are optical discs designed to store data in digital format. They’re made of transparent polycarbonate, covered with a thin metallic layer upon which the data is “recorded” using lasers.
The reading operations are also performed using lasers, but the devices must be treated with maximum care in order to ensure their constant and precise functionality. This includes the production stage, before they are placed on the market.
In the field of industrial automation, it’s extremely important to be able to develop ad hoc solutions for every product. Vuototecnica is capable of providing various types of suction cups based on the specific requirements of the objects to be handled, such as ring suction cups, which are designed to hold objects with a central hole, like CDs.
These suction cups are often used in the electronics industry; they have an extremely thin sealing lip in order to allow them to adapt well to rough surfaces, such as abrasive disks for angle grinders. They are cold fitted to the supports and are made from silicone S for handling compact discs. The supports are made from anodized aluminium and are equipped with a threaded central hole, which provides for the suctioning operations and allows the unit to be fastened to the automated mechanism itself.
Ring suction cups can be used to handle perforated disks of any material, including gears, pulleys and even abrasive discs.
In order to meet its customers’ requirements, Vuototecnica even produces these suction cups in different blends. Download the Vuototecnica Catalogue in PDF format or request a printed copy to find out more about all the solutions we have to offer!
Radiographic films without halos and without fear
X-rays play a very important role in hospitals: they show the portion of the body being examined in clear detail. X-rays are very similar to the film used in photography, consisting of plastic coated material with a thin layer of silver nitrate able to expose X-rays.
These supports are highly electrostatically charged, so in the development of X-rays, users must be very careful handling them to avoid contaminants that could affect the validity of the examination.
For this application, Vuototecnica has created special mixture suction cups that do not leave any traces on the X-rays, for X-ray film developing machines. The mix of elliptical suction cups with vulcanised support by Vuototecnica does not carry electrostatic charges and is therefore ideal for this kind of work.
The original conformation of the suction cups allows users move and withdraw one X-ray at a time without leaving halos and without deforming the film. The aluminium supports are vulcanised on the suction cups and have a side groove that prevents rotation.
The elliptical suction cups with vulcanised support by Vuototecnica are useful in any situation which requires safe handling of X-rays, laminates, sheets, pages and other kinds of products for which the separation of many thin superimposed layers is necessary.
All this without ever forgetting the Vuototecnica keywords: quality, versatility and customisation.
Maintain the vacuum level constant with Vuototecnica reducers
In hospitals, construction sites, industries, laboratories and any place where a constant and adjustable vacuum level must be maintained a vacuum regulator is the ideal solution. Specific reducers exist depending on the required use, for low or high vacuum levels.
The vacuum reducer is a valuable tool as, for example, when installed in centralized systems in which each conductor can be adjusted to a value different from the vacuum level of the central plant.
Vuototecnica is the pioneer in Italy in manufacturing state-of-the-art vacuum reducers. For more than 30 years, the reducers have been the flagship product in the Vuototecnica catalogue and there are various types of them.
• Reducers with manual adjustment, via a knurled screw, whose operation is based on the difference between the atmospheric pressure and the vacuum required for the job;
• Manual reducers for low vacuum levels, thanks to which it is possible to adjust the minimum vacuum level in order to come as close as possible to the value of the atmospheric pressure;
• Vacuum reducers with pneumatic adjustment, that exploit pneumatic principles in defining the ratio between the compressed air supply and the vacuum level to be obtained. The reducers can be installed even in places far from the central control unit and they are operated via a pressure regulator on the control panel.
The vacuum is maintained constant by Vuototecnica reducers even when there are fluctuations in the pump or vacuum pumpset, the atmospheric air never enters the circuits, thereby preventing products from being warped by too much low pressure.
With Vuototecnica at Christmas there are no unpleasant surprises
With Christmas just around the corner, the confectionery industry is working at full capacity to manufacture all kinds of goodies: chocolates, snacks and candy. For proper packaging, keeping in mind the correct product quantity, Vuototecnica has designed and created a mini cup holder with magnetic sensor that allows the suction cups to handle pieces while simultaneously counting them, thus preventing the unpleasant surprise of a partially empty box of chocolates.
This innovative cup holder has been created to satisfy the needs of a large Italian multinational confectionery company and is therefore able to support a cyclic, continuous and laborious grip and release process. The magnetic sensor is a very important part of the device. It gives an electric impulse to the handling machine each time suction is carried out properly. Instead, a signal is given to the PLC when pieces are not taken properly. In this case, a second packaging phase will take care of correcting the error.
The mini cup holders with magnetic sensor by Vuototecnica are suitable for suction cups up to a diameter of 20-25 mm, especially designed for these small products, whether they are bellows or traditional cups. The suction cups for food use are normally in silicone and are produced in compliance with the standards regulating contact with food like the FDA, BGA and TSCA.
With Vuototecnica, customisation is always possible, depending on customer needs and application specifications. Many of Vuototecnica products have, in fact, been born from particular manufacturer requirements, like in the case with these special mini cup holders.
Vacuum cups: “made-to-order” allies for graphics companies
Vuototecnica supplies only the very best vacuum technology, ever striving for excellence, but there’s more. The company also aims to give customers a personalized, made-to-measure and versatile product, in order to satisfy any and all requirements.
With this top-quality, customised, and versatile mentality, one of Vuototecnica’s finest departments, the Graphic Division, has made available made-to-measure vacuum disk cups.
These go beyond made-to-order disks with standard sizes and characteristics. They can be designed and produced with the client and for the client. Adjusted, designed and produced with specific buyer requirements (a minimum order will be set at the quotation stage), the vacuum cups can be perforated from sheets or moulded in nitrile rubber, natural Para rubber, in silicone, or special blends, as well as in rubberised or polyurethane fabric.
It’s personalised excellence: just like an haute couture creation, these vacuum disks are the ideal solution for the graphics industry. They present a quality alternative to traditional suction cups that handle sheets of paper, cardboard, and plastic.
Pneumatic suction and blowing pumps for graphic companies that aspire to be the best
The pneumatic suction and blowing pumps (PA/PS) are the pride of the Graphic Division, a division created from the experience of Vuototecnica, entirely dedicated to the graphic design and printing sector and a leader from engineering to service, able to offer innovative and advantageous technological solutions from all standpoints: performance, reliability, durability and operational economy.
They represent the absolute best of the new generation of multiple-ejector pneumatic pumps (multi-stage); they are able to suction or blow as needed and represent a real evolution compared to conventional electric, suction/discharge, and rotary vane pumps.
Thanks to the new generation of ejectors, the PA / PS pumps have an excellent ratio between and the quantity of air consumed and of that suctioned (or blown) and all this while benefiting operational consumption. However, the list of advantages of these products is still long:
• They ensure the ability to adjust the vacuum level (or pressure level) and the capacity, based simply on the air supply pressure. Depending on the air supply pressure, the pumps can be controlled with proportional valves for compressed air, limiting consumption to the minimum necessary, depending on the weight and porosity of the paper and cardboard in the printing machine.
• They are surprisingly quiet (60-65dB)
• The total absence of heat benefits the work environment.
• They only blow fresh air, free of impurities, condensate and oil vapours, between the pages to be separated.
• Reduced electrostatic charges generated by the hot air blown by conventional electric pumps.
• The use of selected, hi-tech, latest generation materials has made it possible to reduce the weight of these technological jewels and to install them directly on the machine.
• Minimal maintenance required; just a simple cleaning of the suction and blowing filters.
• 5 YEAR GUARANTEE
Here are some of the main types of printing machines in which PA / PS pneumatic pumps are used:
• Sheet feeders: To lift the sheets using vacuum suction cups and separate them with a puff of air.
• Sheet stoppers: System for stopping the sheets printed in the output area and to stack them quickly, using suction bars.
• Benders: For bending paper during operations that require both suction and blowing.
• Binders and gluers: For binding books or brochures via independent work stations equipped with suction and blowing systems.
These are just some of the potential uses of PA / PS pumps in the paper industry, but Vuototecnica’s Graphic Division is ready to meet the needs of each individual printer who intends to increase their productivity and improve their work environment.
Vacuum seal test
To prevent unpleasant surprises when it comes to cellophane or PVC flow-pack food product packaging, test the welding seals using the ATP02 by Vuototecnica, a leader in vacuum technology.
Nothing gets past this easy to use and totally pneumatic testing device, especially the air that escapes packages with a defective closure and weld seal.
Vacuum generation, using a multi-stage pneumatic ejector inside the transparent container, allows for identifying the exact point of even the smallest air leak from the package immersed in water.
The defective weld is evidenced by the small bubbles leaking out from the welding.
The test values are adjustable and can be automatically repeated.
Upon request, Vuototecnica manufactures special versions to meet the specific needs of its customers.
Using vacuum technology for food conservation
Each type of food has its own distinct qualities. In order to preserve it the best way possible we need to get to know the foods and how various food groups can be matched together. Also, there are different cooking and heating methods that will affect the wholesomeness of food nutrients.
Some conservation methods can be applied by just about anyone; industrial production derives its preservation methods from the experience that has been accumulated throughout history, and it applies that experience to larger quantities. There are food conservation methods that have been passed down generation to generation and that can be re-evaluated now that we have new scientific and technological discoveries. One of the most utilized methods that guarantees correct and balanced food conservation is vacuum packing.
Vuototecnica supplies its clients with the very best technology for correct food conservation.
How to choose the most appropriate vacuum pump
Choosing the most appropriate pump or vacuum generator is not easy.
Capacity calculation requires a careful analysis of the air contained in the various components, the vacuum cups, the collectors, the tubing, and the vacuum interception valve. It also requires analysing the air in the vacuum generator itself, and a careful evaluation of the product that will be moved, its shape and the gripping surface.
All this is done, moreover, by keeping a keen eye on the calculation of the gripping times required by the individual situations.
Vuototecnica, with its one-of-a-kind vacuum know-how, wanted to help its clients by providing a handbook that has each type of vacuum pump and the corresponding capacity, which depends on the material that needs to be moved and whether it is waterproof, like sheet metal and glass, or more porous, like wood or cardboard.
Vuototecnica has developed an indicator that makes decision making during the work process easier and faster. Above all, when choosing a pump or vacuum generator the company offers increased safety that is guaranteed by Vuototecnica’s experience in the industry.
Contact experts who will help you choose a vacuum pump more quickly and safely. Vuototecnica also gives you the opportunity to test the most appropriate solutions under the supervision of its technicians. Contact us!
Vacuum technology in packaging processes
Beverage, Cosmetics & Health Care and Chemical industries bring positive performances to the market, recording favourable trends for the Italian packaging industry.
According to a post economic crisis market monitoring conducted by the UCIMA research office, the Italian packaging machine manufacturers association, 2011 is a good year for the packaging and automatic packaging sectors. Their growth in recent months has been assisted by systems and software that were fine-tuned in order to accelerate and simplify packaging processes.
Vuototecnica offers a wide range of vacuum cups and many other applications. When employed in the packaging industry, they ensure effective and innovative solutions.
Examples are the energy-saving AVG vacuum generators, suitable for interlocking vacuum grip systems, for handling sheet metal and glass, as well as plastics and cardboard, which are all necessary for product packaging.
To learn more about AVG generators, click here, or contact the Vuototecnica experts here in order to find the handling and control system that best suits your packaging process, with customised solutions.
Vacuum technology in constant evolution
The “vacuum” concept has interested the most brilliant minds since ancient times. Just think of Democritus in ancient Greece, who identified atoms and the vacuum as primary realities. Or studies conducted on the compressibility of air during the Hellenistic Age. The first to theorise about vacuum properties, in 1650, was the scientist and jurist Otto von Guericke, who laid the foundation for the development of modern technology now employed daily in many industries.
Throughout history, physical science developments and the momentum of technical research have driven the need to create equipment that produces and measures vacuums.
The most strategic and innovative applications of what is now referred to as vacuum technology, has fascinated Vuototecnica since the 1970s. Since then it has used vacuum technology to continuously improve its vacuum solutions, globally expanding its technological innovations and the services it offers.
To learn more about Vuototecnica‘s story and the future of vacuum technologies, contact us for a visit at our new headquarters.
Increase productivity with vacuum technology
Do you want to increase your company’s profitability and competitiveness? Thanks to the most innovative vacuum technology, Vuototecnica has been developing standard, specific and customised solutions for more than 35 years, to help its clients increase company productivity in automation processes and improve their work environment.
Errors made during handling, moving or lifting can result in breakage, waste, production loss and non-recoverable costs. Vuototecnica offers you the ideal solution for moving any type of product using a safe technology that is guaranteed and tested by expect technicians.
The satisfaction of our clients is a guarantee of success. Contact either Vuototecnica directly or one of our distributors to find the solution best suited to your needs.
More and more precision vacuum and pressure gauges
One end of the spring, in a special copper alloy, is welded to the threaded pin of the vacuum gauge – pressure gauge, forming a single body, while the other end, closed, is left free so that it moves, and therefore measures the vacuum level, based on the pressure or depression which passes through the spring’s body, deforming it.
Vacuum measurement is substantially based on the principle of operation of a spring, discovered in the 1800′s by French engineer and watchmaker Eugène Bourdon.
From this basic principle entire ranges of more and more innovative vacuum metres have been developed, enclosed in strong metal cases even with dual scale faces and indexes, available on the market in the most varied versions: vacuum metres with radial or coaxial connections, with flush flanges or for external use, dry or in glycerine baths.
The selection of vacuum measurement, control and regulation instruments is truly vast, both analogue and digital, useful to provide a very precise digital signal at the maximum set measurement value.
To find the vacuum gauge which is most suited for your activities, see the Vuototecnica team of experts, who can recommend the most customised solution for you from among the wide range of Vuototecnica vacuum and pressure gauges.
At Vuototecnica you can find all of the pressure and vacuum gauges useful for your operational needs, all built in absolute observance of safety standards and with the currently used units of measurement in the European Community.
Suction cups for lifting objects of all type, shape and surface
For handling of cardboard boxes, wood panels, marble and granite slabs, glass panes as well as plastic bags, abrasive springs and more: the suction cups, available from Vuototecnica in various conformations, are able to meet the most varied needs.
To meet every possible need, Vuototecnica makes a wide range of suction cups available, each with particular characteristics which set it apart from the others.
A few of these are listed below:
• Cupped suction cup: the most common, used for moving very light objects even with rough or irregular surfaces such as plastic boxes, thin metal or glass slabs or wood panels.
• Bellows suction cup: recommended in all cases where it is necessary to move sheets of paper or cardboard, thin sheets of metal, etc. Thanks to their great flexibility they are also used to pick up sloped surfaces or to compensate planarity errors.
• Flat suction cups, round and rectangular: for vertical or horizontal movement of large loads such as marble or granite slabs.
• Suction cups in foam rubber: for picking up course or very rough surfaces such as rough cement, cut marble, anti-skid sheet metal, etc.
• MaxiGrip Suction cups: recommended in the Automotive sector for handling of oily sheet metal or body parts.
• Circular crown suction cups: capable of picking up loads with a central hole such as CDs, bored discs, gears or similar objects.
• Elliptical plane suction cups: used to move plastic objects, boxes, with limited surface area.
• Particular suction cups: various conformations, can resolve all of the countless problems of pick up and handling. Suitable for picking up CD’s, handling of envelopes, labels, biscuits and chocolates, figurines, tiles, nots and bolts, etc.
• Discover other details about the Vuototecnica suction cups.
Vacuum: advanced technology and guaranteed energy savings
Vuototecnica shows its attention to energy saving and the great vocation of technological innovation with its production of a wide range of vacuum components.
The monthly magazine “I quaderni dell’Aria Compressa” will go in-depth into Vuototecnica product guarantees, devoting two pages of its March 2011 issue to two Vuototecnica vacuum solutions.
“I quaderni dell’Aria Compressa” is an Italian magazine, published by “EMME.CI. Comunicazioni e Servizi S.a.s.”. Since 1995, it has dealt with products, techniques, applications and much more related to compressed air.
The article dedicated to Vuototecnica takes a look at the three-way vacuum solenoid valves, pilot-operated for large capacities and the AVG vacuum generators: two solutions that are proof of Vuototecnica performance efficiency and the company’s constant attention to energy savings.
Download the “I quaderni dell’Aria Compressa” magazine.
New solenoid valves for vacuums, for even faster responses
A new, fully innovative series of solenoid valves for vacuums to guarantee exceptionally low response times have been created from Vuototecnica research and experience.
They are three-way vacuum solenoid valves, pilot-operated for capacities exceeding even 200 mc/h: They are used for vacuum interception on power supply units and suction palletizers, vacuum thermoformers, vacuum packaging units, robots, feeders, bag opening units and in all those cases where rapid exchange between pump suction for vacuums and air supply into the circuit is necessary for quick restoration of atmospheric pressure.
Solenoid valve technical features Art. 07 08 13
• Connections: Ø 2″gas
• Capacity: Nmc/h 300
• Working pressure: from 0.5 to 1000 absolute mbar
• Actuator pressure: from 4 to 8 bar
• Suctioned fluid temperature: from – 5 to + 60°C
Click here to find out further information about the technical features of three-way, pilot-operated, large capacity solenoid valves.
Vacuum technology for producing solar panels
Italian government incentives for solar panel installation confirmed again for 2011. Compared to 2010, tax rebates have doubled from 5 to 10 years for those who choose a more eco-sustainable home.
Ensuring not only environmental improvement but also low expenses, solar energy has undergone remarkable development in recent years and solar panel production is destined for even further growth.
Have you ever thought about how each delicate solar cell is handled during the solar panel production process, where speed is very fast with relatively short cycle times? Vuototecnica has found the solution with BEC suction cups which make use of the Bernoulli theorem.
BEC suction cups have been specially designed to handle fragile objects such as solar cells, silicone discs, precious metal sheets and other objects that need to be handled with the utmost delicacy without any contact.
Have a look here to discover all the characteristics of these suction cups and of other Vuototecnica patented vacuum gripping systems.
The Wood Industry: An alternative to electric rotary vane vacuum pumps
The solutions most often used are not always the most advantageous.
Vuototecnica has always been involved in researching new, innovative solutions to improve industrial processes. In this context, the pneumatic vacuum suction pump represents a real evolution compared to traditional electric rotary vane pumps.
For an “on field” evaluation of the advantages of using this vacuum pump, we went to Essepi srl, a company that produces plywood and multi-layer components for the chair, furniture and home furnishing industries.
The company chose to install, on a 4-axis work station, the PA140 pneumatic vacuum suction pump created by Vuototecnica, to replace the classic oil bath rotary vane vacuum pump that is commonly used.
We met with Michele Basin, Manager of Essepi’s Technical Office:
“’The yield of the new PA140 pump is absolutely amazing. With this simple and compact device, we are able to obtain the same vacuum level as a classic oil bath pump, eliminating all wear and maintenance problems once and for all.
We asked ourselves: “Why didn’t we discover this device earlier?!? We would have saved a few thousand euros and all the machine downtime resulting from maintenance and the repair of old pumps.
Frankly, we wonder why the manufacturers of CNC machines do not provide the P140 suction pump instead of the usual very expensive vacuum pumps. Its initial vacuum starting power is greater and allows for the instant locking of pieces such as bodies, which have uneven surface curvatures.
Could the Vuototecnica vacuum suction pump also be an ideal solution for your other machines?
‘Without a doubt we will gradually replace the old vacuum pumps with the PA140 on all of our machines. Ultimately, the device costs basically the same as a complete maintenance operation of the old pumps, and vane replacement’.
Shipyards with the wind in their sails
Vuototecnica has specially designed the new DR 100 M 01/02 system for vacuum resin infusion moulding for the nautical sector.
Shipyards usually operate with ordinary vacuum pumps that suck onto the moulds without the interposition neither of a volume nor of a vacuum reducer to adjust and maintain the depression inside the suction circuit constant. The result is a variety of permanently operating pumps with the risk of overheating and the need for constant maintenance.
To solve these problems, Vuototecnica has developed this mobile system, which guarantees the best finishing in operations such as infusion or vacuum bagging, thereby ensuring maximum flexibility as required in shipyards.
The resin, which is contained in a special container, is vacuum-sucked by the Vuototecnica mobile system onto a mould until filling it.
Any excessive resin collected inside the sheet steel autoclave can be viewed through the transparent methacrylate cover, which can be manually removed for cleaning the inside of the autoclave once the process is completed.
The installed oil bath vacuum pumps (MV20A/MV40A) allow reaching a maximum vacuum level of 99.5% inside the autoclave therefore, the equipment can also be used as a degasifier.
The standard vacuum reducer installed on the equipment allows adjusting the vacuum level between minimum 20% and maximum 99.9%.
The accurate adjustment of the vacuum level is extremely important in vacuum bagging applications, where the pre-impregnated carbon fibres are pressed in the mould by means of the depression generated inside the bag itself and of the atmospheric pressure that acts evenly on it.
To ensure simple handling in the shipyard, this new vacuum resin infusion system is equipped with a power control panel and is trailer-mounted with a handle onto a solid structure made of steel profiles.
Furthermore, Vuototecnica has developed and created a range of accessories specific for the resin and composite fibre sector, such as: vacuum bagging valves; suction valves for resin infusion moulds; vacuum regulators; vacuum valves and solenoid valves; specific suction filters; vacuum hoses and manifolds.
The age of low energy vacuum generators for the automotive sector
The Automotive sector increasingly requires equipment with excellent performances and limited weight and bulk. In order to meet these requirements, Vuototecnica, in close collaboration with the engineering departments of the major automobile companies, has created the new Automotive Vacuum Generators (AVG).
They are equipped with single ejectors that, given the same capacity of generators with multiple ejectors, allow generating vacuum more rapidly with an instant grip by the vacuum cups (Maxigrip Cups) as a result.
The standard equipment also includes a device that guarantees 40% energy saving in terms of air consumption, compared to traditional vacuum generators.
All this thanks to the built-in standard pneumatic vacuum switch, which interrupts the compressed air supply once the preset maximum vacuum value is reached and restores it only when the vacuum level returns below the minimum threshold.
All this not only allows maintaining the vacuum level within preset safety values, but also a considerable saving of compressed air.
The unique AVG design allows the equipment to operate in “Energy Saving” mode, as indicated above, even in total absence of electricity. This is an essential factor in the robotic lines of the automotive industry in case of sudden downtime or blackouts. The standard Venturi pipes installed on the robot grippers are constantly controlled by a normally open pneumatic valve for the entire time the electricity is absent to prevent the loss of the metal sheets or the windows of the automobile in the assembly line. An energy consumption that is unacceptable for lines equipped with hundreds of Venturi pipes can be easily solved using Automotive Vacuum Generators.
Once the work cycle is completed, the power supply micro solenoid valve is deactivated by means of an electrical pulse while, at the same time, the ejection solenoid valve is activated for quick restoration of the atmospheric pressure inside the vacuum cups. AVG vacuum generators are set for the installation of a digital micro-switch.
Save energy with vacuum
What is the state of the art in vacuum technologies in the field of energy saving?
Designing and creating solutions that allow saving energy is a must. In fact, on one hand, it allows considerably reducing production costs, mainly in all those industrial processes where primary energy has a high cost, while on the other; it contributes to promoting environmental sustainability.
However, vacuum plants are frequently misused; being either oversized or neglected due to the lack of information on new vacuum generation technologies, which results in excessive energy consumption.
What kind of energy savings does the correct knowledge of vacuum plants allow for?
In a vacuum generation plant, the correct sizing and the use of adequate equipment allow saving 50% energy with a drastic reduction of vacuum pumps wear and maintenance.
Which is the main mistake made when using vacuum plants?
In 60% of cases, vacuum pumps operate continuously, even when the machine or the system they are installed on, do not require vacuum. This results in a waste of energy, premature wear and constant maintenance to prevent machine downtime. All this generates costs that affect the operating economy of the plant.
Which are the solutions offered by Vuototecnica?
Whenever possible, depending on the work cycle, Vuototecnica offers and recommends using a pumpset (pump and tank) or a central vacuum system (pumps and tank) that allow: reducing the number of direct suction vacuum pumps; concentrating and limiting vacuum pump control and maintenance in one single area; reducing the actual pump operation time by 40%, given the same work cycle of one or more pumps that are always active; preventing machine downtime thanks to the help of safety pumpsets, with vacuum pumps that operate in tandem and control panels that constantly monitor their operation.
What kind of investment does the improvement of vacuum generation plant operating economy require?
We at Vuototecnica are always at your disposal for an evaluation aiming at effective energy saving.
The proposal of centralising vacuum is always backed by a detailed technical analysis certifying the actual costs and benefits, as well as the return on investment.
The customer generally amortises the invested capital over an operation period of 6 months/one year.
